The Tribes:
BILOXI:
In 1763 they moved from Mississippi to the Red River area and lived near
the Tunica Tribe on the Avoyelles Prairie. Around 1800 they sold
their lands and gradually joined the Tunica and Choctaw Tribes. They
furnished the names of the first two capitals, Old and New Biloxi.
CADDO:
The main tribe of the Caddo moved to Caddo Lake from Arkansas in the
1790's. They were skilled at hunting buffalo from horses. Both
sexes were elaborately tattooed with designs of animals and flowers.
Excellent pottery and salt were used for trade. In 1835 they sold
their lands to the United States and moved to Texas and Oklahoma.
CHITIMACHA:
This large dominant tribe lived in an area that provided an abundant food
supply. Houses were made from poles and covered with palmetto
thatch. Women were held in high esteem. One male chief ruled
all the villages. Excellent split cane basket were dyed with colors
and used for trade. They constructed mounds to bury their
dead. This is the only tribe who still live in the vicinity of their
ancestral home lands.
COUSHATTA (KOASATI)
Originally from Georgia and Alabama, they moved to Louisiana in the late
18th century. They lived in clans made of many families. Each
clan had its own animal totem. Women controlled much of tribal
life. Bows, arrows, and blowguns were used for hunting. They
wove beautiful cloth, rope, and saddle blankets. A Coushatta
Confederate unit fought in the American Civil War. In 1884 they
purchased tribal lands.
HOUMA:
They were successful farmers, who in 1700 lived near the present city of
Angola. After a battle with the Tunica in 1706, they moved south
where they abandoned agriculture in favor of fishing, hunting, and
trapping. A blowgun was used for hunting small animals. The
worshipped the sun and the crayfish was revered because it gave protection
and was symbol of kingship. The city of Baton Rouge was named from
one of their villages where a blood stained pole was located.
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